Trevor Sargent
Question:73 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30272/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
Questions (92, 93)
Liam Twomey
Question:85 Dr. Twomey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of the embargo against trading with China between Ireland and other EU member states; the goods, services or supplies that such embargoes relate to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30053/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 85 together.
An embargo on trade in arms and related materials between EU member states and China has been in place since the events in Tiananmen Square in June 1989. This embargo forbids trade in arms and related material of all types, such as weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and equipment. Deputies will recall that the European Council on 12 December 2003 invited the General Affairs and External Relations Council, or GAERC, to re-examine the question of the EU arms embargo on China. Initial discussion at the GAERC took place on 26 January 2004, when it was agreed to invite the permanent representatives' committee, COREPER, and the political and security committee, PSC, to look into the matter. The issue was further reviewed at the GAERC in April and again in October, where it was decided that the preparatory work should continue to allow all technical issues surrounding it to be fully examined.
The issue was again discussed by the GAERC on Monday last in the context of preparation of the EU-China summit, which will take place on 8 December 2004. Ministers agreed that the EU was ready to give a positive signal to China on lifting the embargo. However, work must be completed on strengthening the EU code of conduct on arms exports, which sets out criteria governing all arms exports from the EU. In addition, the Union hopes for a further demonstration by the Chinese authorities of their good intentions on human rights. The Government will continue to examine this question with its EU partners in view of our overall relationship with China, our ongoing commitment to human rights and the broader regional and international context. The intention to adopt this approach has been conveyed to the Chinese authorities, most recently during talks with Vice-Premier Huang Ju on 16 November 2004, and by the Taoiseach during his discussions with Premier Wen when they met on the margins of the ASEM summit in Hanoi on 9 October 2004.